Where most high school sports go to CIF if their season goes well, Pacifica’s Drumline has set its sight on the WGI World Percussion Championship! The Mariners who dedicate their time and effort into Drumline get the chance to show off their hard earned skills in front of the world. After state finals, the Drumline made their way to Dayton, Ohio for 4 days to show the judges what they are made of.
Going to the WGI World Percussion Championship doesn’t happen by accident, it takes strong leadership, unwavering focus and hard work in order to reach those heights. In this kind of event, there is little room for error, especially while being judged on each little aspect of a performance. When asked about dealing with mistakes, Lillian Allen put it as, “There’s always the little things, especially if you get really hyped during a show and the energy’s just really high. You’re going to make mistakes, but the show just happens so fast, and when you’re performing, you feel like you’re done in a minute. Drumline has been a really fundamental part of my high school years. It’s definitely one of the most unique things I’ve ever done and I’m very proud of how far our program has come and I love all the people there.” The performance might be over in a flash, but the memories and one carry will last a lifetime.
Additionally, JohnPaul Ngo, reflects on the uniqueness of competing in an artistic competition, “You play a piece of music, but it’s not just the music. You march on the floor and then you have all the visuals that go along with the drumming. It’s not just drumming but something more akin to theater than a concert. I feel like I have gotten better as a performer and gotten more control. If you treat every practice like a show run, then when you get to the show, it should feel like practice. That’s what allowed me to perform and forget about the nerves and everything. When I make mistakes, I just ignore it. It’s like ‘I made the mistake, ok, I have to keep going.’ It doesn’t stop.” The success of a performance hangs on the preparation one puts into the show, without dedication and perseverance.
In the end, Pacifica’s Drumline came home as winners after giving their all at championships. The inspiring precision at which they compete illustrates Drumlines dedication to their craft and their relentless desire to win. As these Mariners come home to Pacifica, they bring with them more than just trophies, they’ll bring their pride of having competed among the best of the best and come out with more love for Drumline that they left with, ready to inspire the next generation of Mariners.
